Monday, 26 July 2010

British grown Mange tout on sale

British mange tout goes on sale for the first time. The vegetable, typically grown in Kenya, is expected to attract shoppers keen to avoid produce that has racked up air miles

British-grown mange tout will go on sale on the UK high street for the first time this week in a boost for shoppers keen to avoid produce that has racked up air miles.

The vegetable is typically grown in Kenya, and British growers have until now been unable to provide retailers and supermarkets with the volume they need. The new British mange tout will be available for a limited time until the end of August.

The first British crop has been grown in Chipping Campden in the Cotswolds by the Haines family. They have supplied Marks & Spencer with peas, broad beans and sugar snap peas since the 1970s, and will produce the mange tout for M&S stores nationwide.

M&S vegetable expert Simon Coupe said: "We know our customers love to buy British where possible and are delighted to offer our customers the first British mange tout.

William Haines said: "The British mange tout will be available for a limited time only, but we are sure M&S customers will love it and we will work to have a bigger crop for next year."

No other major supermarket stocks British-grown mange tout. Waitrose sells mange tout from Kenya, and offers financial incentives to farmers through its Waitrose Foundation.